Good food finds in the run up to Christmas

Try a Greigs Xmas muffin they are a few moments of heaven.

Always made delicious mincepies for myself and two daughter's families plus brandy butter. I think there would be a revolt if I stopped. I've always used the same recipe and it will be passed on when the time comes. Home-made is best - depending on the recipe I suppose.

Yes well, me too Jane10 but I waited until you admitted it before I confessed.

I bought beautiful macroons from Lidl, intending to keep them for Sunday after dinner but someone I had eaten them all within an hour of getting home

Oh gilly I have.

The tiny little Florentines from Aldi are so delicious I could eat a whole box.

Starbucks mince pies were very tasty last Christmas, Hope they haven't changed suppliers.

Thanks granny piper...didn't know about the lidl offer!!

Not exactly on thread, but Pret have a Christmas deal of a drink and mince pie for £1.99. Lovely mince pie.

We have already eaten several boxes of Aldi mince pies (the ones in the dark blue box) and I've have bought their Prosecco Pannetonne. Haven't tried it yet but their luxury ones are always lovely. A couple of weeks ago they had a dessert version of Valpollicella. Luckily I bought two bottles as they've sold out now.

Love love love the traditional nougat that is sold in Aldi - almost worth the expensive trip to the dentist in the New Year lol

Hi Candlefran. I used to make my own mincemeat (when I was young and enthusiastic) but find brandy stirred into the shop bought variety works very well and saves a lot of messing about.

ecci53 so agree, several boxes have been consumed already

My DIL's Polish family have their Christmas feast on Christmas Eve. Advent is a period of reflection and abstinence, much like Lent, and on C Eve it is traditional to fast until the sun has gone down. The meal has 12 courses to symbolize either the 12 disciples or for good luck in the coming year. It is traditionally meat-free (to respect the animals in the manger) and the main dish is carp. From what I've heard there is also a great deal of vodka drunk!

Sorry, I seem to have veered off the OP a bit

Tesco have a new selection of non alcoholic drinks made with wine grapes. Have bought a couple of bottles but not tried them yet.

shloer is a nice substitute for wine if you cannot drink alcohol. I am allergic to wine so this makes you feel included. We got some in today at waitrose.

When we lived in Norway they used to have ginger bread and pickled fish for Christmas dinner instead of Christmas pudding and turkey.

My OH will not eat ANY bought mince pies, he hates them and only likes mine because they are so yummy. Back to the kitchen then although it is a round about compliment.

I could do with quite a bit of minimising!!

Kitty If I'm minimised any more I'll disappear completely

I now live near a Lidl and am finding food things in there, Their Stollen bites are very moreish - although they don't look very pretty on a plate. I think I'd tart them up a bit for Christmas with the tiniest shake of icing sugar.
Lidle's free range chicken breasts are very good too - if like me you have to cater for one turkey hater.

I am trying to resist this thread!

I'd never heard of ecclefechan either and the recipes seemed to vary when I looked it up.

Piggin phone, sorry* minimouse*!!

minimise, I like many s gf bread and their crumbed fish. They didn't have any gf panettone, sadly

Has anyone come across a decent jar of mincemeat they can recommend? I love making my own mine pies but not making my own mincemeat. Most supermarket jars seem to be all sauce and very little fruit - yuk!

caocao thanks for that information. I am Scottish but have never heard of it. Admittedly I left Scotland in my late teens.